Construction ~ Week 1

Construction on our house began this week!  We are building not too far from our last house on a lot we bought the winter after Avery was born.  This was our top pick for neighborhoods, and with limited lots for construction in the city, we knew we needed to act fast.  We contacted the current owner and told him that we were interested in this lot if he ever wanted to sell.  Wouldn't you know, a few weeks later he was ready.

We are building a house that I have loved since high school.  A couple that I babysat for built the first house I had seen like it, and then another was built on the road to and from college my last 2 years.  I saw the lady I babysat for in a grocery store parking lot one day, and asked if she had a magazine with the plan.  I think I was still in college, but I know I had not yet met Ned.  She sent me a copy of the page, but the picture of the house had been cut off.  My mom (who likes to look at house plans) bought a book not long after that, and it just happened to have several versions of my house, including the one we're building.  I had no intentions of building any house when I asked that woman for the plan, but I knew I would need it one day.  That may sound strange, but perhaps if I tell you I have names picked out for any other children that we will be blessed with, it will make more sense.

Luckily, Ned liked the house too, although he did have one that he loved more.  I loved that house as well, but even though it was bigger and had cool things like a butler's pantry, I wanted my house.  Cost won out of course, and my house was the winner.  We had a local architect re-draw the plans in December. Our house went on the market at the end of February, we signed a contract the first Saturday in April, moved into our rental the 2nd weekend of May, and closed on our house about 2 weeks after that.

All of that brings us to breaking ground on Monday.  This picture was taken Tuesday night when the smoke from the wildfires in North Carolina was terrible.  I had the wrong lens on my camera, so I'm not sure that I got everything in the frame.  They had done some digging and poured concrete along with marking off the house.

These pictures were taken Wednesday night after they delivered our block and brick.  It's really hard for me to make much sense of what they've done, and it's my house.

We didn't got by Thursday night, so Avery and I made two trips today.  This morning, we could see where they were working on laying the block.  I think they had the back of the garage done with few other places.  When we went back tonight, I was surprised to find all the block complete and brick work started. 

We have quite a road ahead of us, but we're getting excited.  I dozed off while Avery was in her bed not napping Thursday, and I dreamed our contractor told us we'd be in in November.  Ha!  Our initial estimate when we first met with them was 8-10 months, so we'll see how close they get.  For now we settle for a virtual tour of the house I found on the Internet.  I hope to update weekly while big things are happening, and then less often as they move inside and visible progress slows a bit.  Follow along in this journey with us if you'd like, or skip over any posts that have construction, house, etc. in the title if construction isn't your thing.